Staffing

Staff and Volunteers

The Mission currently has a full- and part-time staff of over sixty. This includes Host Services who provide a welcoming presence in our building and keep those who use our facility safe twenty-four hours a day,  kitchen staff who provide meals four times a day, and cleaning staff who help  maintain the building. 

Reception staff are an important contact for members of community providing toiletries, information and referrals.   On the floor, community workers support community members as they establish goals and work toward them.  In the office, advocates help people sort through issues with government offices.  Our therapist provides individuals with one-on-one assistance as they work through addictions and mental health issues.  Backing all of community work and helping to make this place do what it does are our administrative staff who help us keep the place running.   

The work of the whole staff is directed by a Ministry Leadership Team consisting of the Executive Minister, Deputy Executive Minister,  Directors of Operation, Finance and Fund Development, Housing, and Social Enterprise.  

In addition, we have approximately 60 volunteers from the Downtown Eastside community, and over 100 volunteers from the wider community.  Our wider community volunteers include those who are members of faith communities – Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and those who find First United a good place to share the gifts of their talents and time.   Finally, we are supported by 23 sandwich-making groups and 53 “partners’, who are our link to United Church congregations.  Together – all of us – we are the community known as First United!